Yuan woke slowly, wrapped in the warm heaviness of blankets that smelled faintly of plum blossoms. He tried to turn over and ignore the sunlight, but the whispering outside his chamber pierced through the last layer of sleep.
At first, he thought it was just the usual gossiping of maids doing their rounds.
But the hurrying footsteps…
The breathless excitement…
The rustling of expensive silk…
It was too noisy. Too frantic.
He opened one eye.
Did someone die?
He pushed himself upright just as two maids passed his door, voices carrying clearly into the room.
"Her Highness, Princess Ming is really here—"
"So early? But the envoys only sent word last night—"
"Even the Crown Prince was surprised!"
Yuan froze.
Her Highness…?
Here?
He swung his legs off the bed, heart thudding once in disbelief.
Princess Ming.
The female lead of the novel.
A diplomat's daughter from the neighboring kingdom, educated, graceful, politically sharp. The girl who was meant to meet Crown Prince Jian in a small riverside restaurant— where she accidentally spilled tea on him, apologized frantically, and the Crown Prince, who usually disliked strangers, found himself oddly drawn to her bright sincerity.
That was supposed to be their first meeting.
Not this.
"Hey," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his face, "you're not supposed to show up for another five chapters."
He wasn't supposed to see her until after Crown Prince Jian stabilized the northern border issue. After Third Prince Lei failed his first diplomatic test.
Yet here she was.
"And no one else thinks this is strange because… they didn't read the damn novel," Yuan sighed.
He stood and slipped on a robe. The palace outside was alive with noise— guards from the neighboring kingdom lined up in pale blue uniforms, servants carrying long lacquered cases filled with gifts, musicians being hurried toward the garden.
Yuan tied his sash and stepped outside.
The corridor was chaos.
Noisy, colorful, chaotic.
Maids and eunuchs rushed back and forth, whispering excitedly behind their sleeves, while palace officials tried to figure out where to arrange Princess Ming's massive entourage.
Yuan stopped one maid who nearly bumped into him.
"What's going on?"
She bowed quickly. "Young Master Yuan, Her Highness Princess Ming arrived at dawn. She said she wished to greet the Crown Prince before resting."
Yuan almost choked.
"Before resting? She traveled through the night!"
"That is what shocked us all," the maid said. "We are rushing to prepare the red pavilion for her."
Of course.
The red pavilion was where royal guests were received on formal occasions.
Not where the Crown Prince met the heroine in a humble restaurant over spilled tea.
Yuan resisted the urge to smack his forehead.
The plot isn't just shifting. It's jumping tracks.
Before he could think further, footsteps approached— steady, composed, unmistakably regal.
He turned.
Crown Prince Jian approached with Third Prince Lei at his side. Jian wore dark blue court robes and a calm expression that revealed nothing, but Lei… Lei looked like he hadn't slept, eyes sharp with suspicion.
"You're awake," Crown Prince Jian said, stopping before him.
Yuan bowed politely. "Your Highness."
Lei crossed his arms. "You look too calm for someone who slept through a diplomatic earthquake."
Yuan blinked. "Should I start screaming?"
Lei's eye twitched. "That's not what I—"
Crown Prince Jian cut him off with a quiet sigh. "Ignore him."
Yuan tried not to laugh.
Jian looked at him carefully, gaze traveling from his hair to the way he held his robe closed.
"…You were asleep when she arrived?"
"Yes."
"Good," Jian said softly. "It would have worried me if you ran into the delegation unprepared."
Yuan froze.
Huh?
Before Yuan could say anything, Third Prince Lei leaned in suspiciously.
"You didn't meet her on the way here, right? No strange encounters? No weird behavior?"
Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I'm cursed?"
Lei actually hesitated.
"…I mean, you attract trouble."
Crown Prince Jian shot him a look that said very clearly: Shut up.
Lei grumbled but held his tongue.
Jian turned back to Yuan. "We will greet the princess in a while. I came to inform you before the palace becomes any noisier."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Yuan said.
A eunuch hurried in their direction, bowing deeply.
"Your Highness, Princess Ming wishes to meet you now. She is waiting at the red pavilion."
Crown Prince Jian gave a nod.
But then his eyes slid toward Yuan.
"Walk with us."
Yuan stiffened. "Me?"
"You reported a suspicious door yesterday," Jian said simply. "Until the matter is resolved, I prefer you by my side."
Lei added, "Also because if you wander alone, something will happen. It always happens."
Yuan stared at him. "Lei, do you think I'm a walking omen?"
"Look at your life," Lei replied dryly.
He had a point, but Yuan refused to admit it.
Crown Prince Jian began walking toward the red pavilion, and Yuan followed between the two princes— the future male lead and the side character meant to be a minor rival.
Only now?
Now everything was wrong.
Princess Ming should have fallen in love with Crown Prince Jian at first sight in a restaurant over a silly accident. She should have spent weeks learning palace etiquette. She should have hesitated, struggled, yearned—
But this Princess Ming…
This Princess Ming arrived with zero hesitation. Confident. As if she knew exactly what she wanted.
Yuan swallowed.
Did she also gain memories?
Is that possible?
No. No way. The novel only ever gave reincarnation knowledge to him.
Still, something in the air felt off.
When they reached the red pavilion, the sound of gentle zither strings floated out.
The curtains were drawn back.
Sunlight fell across the polished floor.
And there she sat.
Princess Ming.
Beautiful, poised, wearing a pale green dress that swayed like willow leaves. Her hair was pinned in a simple style— elegant but not overly grand.
She looked up at the sight of the three approaching.
A smile blossomed on her lips.
But Yuan froze.
That wasn't the shy, flustered smile from the novel's restaurant scene.
It was calm. Measured. Studying.
Almost as if she was assessing the Crown Prince.
And as if… she already knew him.
Crown Prince Jian stepped forward with graceful politeness. "Your Highness Princess Ming. Welcome."
Princess Ming rose and bowed in return.
"It is an honor to meet you at last, Your Highness."
Yuan's stomach clenched.
At last?
She wasn't supposed to say "at last."
She was supposed to see him for the first time today.
Lei whispered behind Yuan, "Why is she acting like this is destiny?"
Yuan whispered back, "Because maybe the plot's broken."
Lei blinked. "What?"
"Nothing."
Crown Prince Jian introduced them. "This is Third Prince Lei. And this—"
His gaze softened just a hair.
"This is Yuan, a trusted member of my household."
Princess Ming's eyes shifted toward Yuan.
She smiled again— polite, gentle, but with a flicker of something he couldn't place.
"Yuan," she said. "I have heard… interesting things."
Yuan nearly choked.
From who?! We haven't even met!
He bowed stiffly. "Your Highness is too kind."
Princess Ming's smile deepened, but she said nothing more.
Crown Prince Jian invited her to sit, and the princes took their seats beside her. Yuan remained standing slightly behind them, his position subtle but close enough to be part of the meeting.
As the attendants poured tea, Princess Ming spoke first.
"I apologize for my sudden arrival. My father insisted I travel quickly. He believes our kingdoms will face turbulent years ahead, and strengthening ties early would be wise."
Crown Prince Jian nodded. "We welcome the wisdom of your kingdom."
Yuan frowned slightly.
In the novel, her father only sent her after the border issue was solved. Not before.
This was a huge deviation.
Princess Ming looked at Crown Prince Jian with open admiration. "I wanted to meet you sooner, if I am honest. The stories of your leadership have reached even our borders."
Lei leaned forward. "What stories?"
Princess Ming laughed softly. "The ones that speak of your brother being a calm and righteous heir— the kind who brings stability. Such people are rare."
Crown Prince Jian's expression remained steady, but Yuan noticed the faint shift in his posture.
Princess Ming sipped her tea.
"But stories change," she added quietly. "And sometimes people change with them."
Yuan's spine tingled.
Because that line—
That exact line—
Was from the novel.
A line she said in the restaurant, not here.
Not now.
She was quoting it perfectly.
Yuan stared at her, but she didn't look back. She kept her attention on the Crown Prince, but the awareness in her eyes…
It felt directed at him too.
Does she know?
Did she read the novel too?
Is she… like me?
His thoughts spiraled.
Something had shifted drastically in the world.
Someone else knew the story.
Someone else was playing the game.
Princess Ming set her cup down lightly and turned her head— just slightly— toward Yuan.
Their eyes met.
And she smiled, not as a polite guest, not as a political figure, but as someone who understood something he did.
Yuan's heart dropped.
Oh no.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Not this early.
Not ever.